Captain Cook, sauerkraut and scurvy

Scurvy is a disease of deficiency due to malnutrition, resulting from a lack of vitamin C, with symptoms including weakness, fatigue, sore arms and legs, gum disease, and bleeding from the skin may occur, which can cause even death.

In the 18th century, scurvy was a deadly disease on voyages. Captain James Cook, British naval officer and explorer, noticed that Dutch ships had less scurvy than English ships because they carried barrels of sauerkraut (fermented cabbage). So he decided to carry sauerkraut, the “sailor’s sauerkraut,” (which contains vitamin C).

In 1769, Cook left for the South Pacific, taking along 8,000 pounds of sauerkraut, on a trip that lasted several years. But Cook assumed that it would not be easy to get the British sailors to eat it. So, when they set off on the trip, he made the sauerkraut available only at the captain’s table, for him and his officers. Soon the rest of the crew took notice and also started eating sauerkraut. There were no cases of scurvy on that voyage. Captain Cook was wise in his strategy to implement a solution to a disease common to sailors.

What strategies can you implement today to Improve your lifestyle? Walk. Exercise. Improve your diet. Drink water. Lower your anxiety. Organize your priorities. Take time for family and friends and fun.

Think about these quotes: Today’s habits will be your tomorrow’s destiny. The cost of good habits is in the present. The cost of bad habits is in the future.

What solution can you implement today, what small change can you make to improve your life today?